California Organic Melons Facing Delays

As is the case with every other California fruit crop this year, organic melon production is a bit behind schedule because of heavy rains during the planting season and below-average spring temperatures.

Joe L. Del Bosque, CEO, Del Bosque Farms

“We are running about a week to 10 days late,” said Joe L. Del Bosque, CEO of Del Bosque Farms in Firebaugh, California. “We typically would start around June 25 to July 27. This year, we hope to start shipping around the 4th of July. I don’t think we will have promotable volume until late July and throughout August.”

The much colder than usual California weather this spring has slowed down the growth of the plants and fruit, delaying the harvest, Del Bosque said this week. “Typically, from planting to harvest takes 70-75 days. Our early plantings look like they will take about 80 days.”

Planting starts in early April and continues through June, with production typically expected from late June into October. “We are not exactly sure what’s going to happen this year,” he said, adding that organic melon production is less predictable than conventional. “When it gets hot, these later fields will produce fruit quicker, and we could have a bunching up effect.”

“Typically, from planting to harvest takes 70-75 days. Our early plantings look like they will take about 80 days.” - Joe L. Del Bosque

Del Bosque Farms grows organic and conventional cantaloupes, honeydews, and mini watermelons. The company’s chief executive is optimistic about this season as the colder weather has produced an excellent crop of high-quality melons in all three varieties. Del Bosque is less certain about marketing conditions, noting that economic conditions typically impact sales of the higher-priced, organic items, and it is difficult to predict what the supply-demand curve will look like throughout the summer.

As a seasonal grower with production rooted in the San Joaquin Valley, Del Bosque said there is often a gap in some varieties between the desert production and the shift to the San Joaquin Valley, but he is not certain that will happen this year because it has been cold throughout the region, which could extend the harvest period in more southern areas.

Howard Nager, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Pacific Trellis Fruit/Dulcinea Farms

Another melon supplier with multiple production areas of organic mini watermelons added a bit of clarity to the supply situation for that particular melon variety. “We have started with organic minis in Yuma, Arizona,” said Howard Nager, director of marketing and business development for Pacific Trellis Fruit/Dulcinea Farms, which is headquartered in Los Angeles. “Supplies are good the next few weeks, but we anticipate a short supply gap between Arizona and California production due to rain impacting early San Joaquin Valley plantings. We will also be sourcing from the Huron area mid-July to mid-August and then from Northern California from the end of August to mid-September.”

Dulcinea organic PureHeart mini-seedless watermelons

While the company is anticipating good supplies for several summer months, Nager said there won’t be promotable volume on organic mini watermelons until the last 10 days of July and the first week of August. Unfortunately, there will not be promotable supplies and pricing of the popular category for the 4th of July.

“Weather has impacted the growing areas, and we will be transitioning between Yuma and Huron at that time,” he explained.

“Supplies are good the next few weeks, but we anticipate a short supply gap between Arizona and California production due to rain impacting early San Joaquin Valley plantings." - Howard Nager

Jackie Grindle, who handles the buying of organic melons for Earl’s Organic Produce on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, said it has been difficult to ascertain when the category will have decent supplies. She concurred that cold weather has led to a later start for producers throughout California and Arizona.

Jackie Grindle, Buyer, Earl's Organic Produce

“It has been an interesting melon season,” she said on June 6. “Mexico is finishing up, and the Yuma deal started last week.”

She noted that California’s Coachella Valley also has organic melon acreage, but it’s a very short deal, only lasting a couple of weeks before production moves up to Kern County and the Southern San Joaquin Valley.

“It has been an interesting melon season.” - Jackie Grindle

“It doesn’t look like we will have organic minis for the 4th of July, but our suppliers are telling us we should have large-size organic watermelons as well as organic cantaloupes and honeydews,” Grindle said. “We should not see a gap on those items.”

The current production of organic cantaloupes and honeydews is producing large fruit. “I typically like 12 counts on cantaloupes, but we are seeing a lot of 9s. And on honeydews, most of them have been 5-6 count,” she said.